Podcast
Hikes and Mics Podcast
Hosted by Ivan · EN
Hikes & Mics is where the trail meets the conversation. Each week, host Ivan Orozco brings together hikers, backpackers, and outdoor adventurers to share the stories, lessons, and inspiration they’ve found in the great outdoors. From life-changing summits to quiet moments on local trails, our guests open up about how nature has shaped their journeys—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Every episode blends thoughtful storytelling with a dash of fun, closing out with our signature This or That: Hiking Edition lightning round. Whether you’re a weekend wanderer, a long-distance thru-hiker, or someone who simply loves the outdoors, this podcast is your campfire circle for connection, community, and adventure. New episodes drop every Monday—plus occasional bonus episodes on Fridays. Lace up your boots, plug in your headphones, and join us on the trail.
29episodes
Episodes
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Ditch the Shoes, Find the Trail | Ken Posner | Author of Chasing the Grid & Barefoot Peak Bagger Chasing 1,000 Mountains
4d ago01:03:13Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat happens when you strip away the gear, the gadgets — and even the shoes? Barefoot Ken is here to show us.Meet Ken Posner, also known as Barefoot Ken — ultramarathoner, analyst, author, and the man quietly redefining what it means to connect with nature, one shoeless summit at a time. In this episode, Ken traces his journey from Chicago city kid to barefoot adventurer, sharing how a single book — Born to Run — inspired him to ditch his shoes at age 50 and never really look back.We cover it all: how the Catskills Grid (35 peaks × 12 months = 420 summits) became his modern-day pilgrimage, what it took to complete the John Muir Trail barefoot across three attempts, the meaning behind a barefoot summit of Tsoodzil — a sacred Navajo peak in New Mexico — and why his 1,000 Barefoot Mountains goal (currently at 632!) is more than just a number.Ken also opens up about his minimalist "stretch the rubber band" philosophy, what our hunter-gatherer ancestors can teach us about slowing down on trail, and the surprisingly honest Appendix C in Chasing the Grid — a full catalog of his lifetime running injuries and what they taught him.Episode Links:Barefoot Ken on InstagramBarefoot Ken's WebsiteBarefoot Ken on XPurchase Chasing the GridThis episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @HikesandmicsThis episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
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The Best Hikes Don't Require a Passport | Stephanie Pearson | National Geographic Explorer & Author of 100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A.
2w ago00:38:38Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat makes a hike truly unforgettable? National Geographic Explorer, Outside Magazine contributing editor, and author Stephanie Pearson joins us to find out.Her new book, 100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A. (out now), was born from one of the hardest seasons of her life — and launched with a lightning storm on the Maah Daah Hey Trail in North Dakota. In this conversation, Stephanie opens up about how her mother's passing, an emergency eye surgery in Sweden, and the stillness of COVID reshaped the way she sees the trails in her own backyard.We cover it all: redefining what a "hike of a lifetime" really means, managing overcrowded trails like the Kalalau Trail in Hawaiʻi and popular trails in Sedona, why the Superior Hiking Trail is tougher than it looks, what the Selma to Montgomery Trail taught her about American history, and why the Tahoe Rim Trail might be the perfect first through-hike.Stephanie also shares her thoughts on trail volunteerism, the grief of watching glaciers disappear, hidden gems across the Midwest, and why sometimes — the best hikes don't require a passport.📖 100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A. is available now at local bookstores, Amazon, and major retailers. Learn more at stephanieannpearson.comEpisode Links:Stephanie on InstagramPurchase a copy of 100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A.This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @HikesandmicsThis episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
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Hiking the Grand Canyon Mid-Radiation: Alec Sills-Trausch on Surviving Cancer & Chasing Adventure
3w ago01:02:52Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat happens when a cancer diagnosis becomes the spark that launches a full-time outdoor adventure career? This week on Hikes and Mics, I sit down with Alec — travel writer, photographer, and the force behind Explore with Alec, for one of the most honest and inspiring conversations we've had on the show. Alec is a two-time cancer survivor and bone marrow transplant recipient whose brush with mortality completely redefined his relationship with the outdoors. From hiking across the Grand Canyon mid-radiation to summiting Mount Whitney on a whim, he turned adversity into a life built around adventure.In this episode, we talk about his first post-treatment backpacking trip with his dad in Sedona, why the hardest places to reach are often the most worth protecting, and what it's really like to build a business around the outdoors — late nights, protein bar dinners, and the Enumclaw Taco Bell included.Alec also takes us inside his most unforgettable wildlife encounters — from coastal brown bears in Alaska to mountain gorillas in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park — and shares the networking tip that changed how he lands major clients like National Geographic Travel.Plus — we break down the biggest barriers keeping people out of nature and what creators like Alec are doing to close that gap. 🐻🎒Episode Links:Alec on InstagramAlec on YouTubeExplore with Alec websiteThis episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @HikesandmicsThis episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
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Hiking, Community & Cold Pints: Nicole on Reviving Hiking for Brews in the DMV
4w ago00:49:46Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat happens when you combine a trailhead, a cold pint, and a community that refuses to leave anyone behind? You get Hiking for Brews — and this episode, we're sitting down with the woman who brought it back to life.Nicole is the organizer of Hiking for Brews, a DMV-based group drawing anywhere from 20 to 80 hikers across Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Originally founded in Baltimore, Nicole revived the concept post-COVID when she moved back to the area and wanted to make friends the best way she knew how — on a trail.In this episode, we talk about the story behind her iconic watermelon tote cooler (a 1979 heirloom that's become her signature at every trailhead), why Hiking for Brews is built around connection over mileage, and how volunteer hike leads have helped the group scale from biweekly to near-weekly events.Nicole also shares tips for starting your own hiking group, how she avoids burnout as a leader, and why good hiking shoes will always be her non-negotiable.Plus — she drops some exciting personal news live on the podcast. 🍺🥾Episode Links:Hikes for Brews on InstagramThis episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @HikesandmicsThis episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
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Breaking FKT Records Unsupported on the Bruce Trail & IAT | Cody Taylor
Apr 1300:49:02Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat happens when a touring musician trades the stage for the trail — and starts breaking records?Meet Cody Taylor: former drummer, endurance coach, and unsupported FKT holder of both the Bruce Trail (900km) and the International Appalachian Trail.In this episode of Hikes and Mics, Cody takes us deep into what it really means to go fully unsupported — carrying a 55-pound pack, filtering water from the ground, and sleeping on course while burning more calories than he could eat. He breaks down the brutal lessons learned on the Bruce Trail — hallucinations from zero sleep, back chafing from a failing pack, running out of food with 100km left — and how those hard lessons transformed his IAT experience into something extraordinary.We talk nutrition, magnesium, mental toughness, pack weight strategy, and why dialing in your sleep system changes everything. Cody also opens up about his identity shift from musician to athlete, running a coaching business with his high school sweetheart, and why he's now eyeing an unsupported out-and-back record on Vermont's Long Trail.Whether you're planning your first overnight trip or your next big FKT attempt — Cody's story will make you want to put something on the calendar.Episode Links:Cody on InstagramCody's WebsiteCody on YouTubeCody on FacebookCody on TikTokThis episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @HikesandmicsThis episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
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700 Miles Alone Across Antarctica: Monet Izabeth's Historic South Pole Journey
Apr 601:27:23Tap to summarizeSend us Fan Mail700+ miles. Alone. Dragging a sled across Antarctica with nothing but training, grit, and the kind of stubbornness that makes history — and she did. Meet the first American woman to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole. On January 18, 2026, Monet Izabeth made history — skiing solo and unsupported across 700+ miles of Antarctic ice to the South Pole. The wild part? Three years before that, she had never once slept outside in winter.In this episode, Monet traces the full, unlikely arc: from being dragged on hikes as a kid who wanted nothing to do with the outdoors, to a jaw-dropping Facebook message about her great uncle's WWII plane found on Mt. Kenya, to a brutal polar shakedown in Svalbard that left her thinking, "Damn it. Now I have to do it."We go deep on what a goal this size actually demands — over $89,000 just for the expedition itself, two and a half years of all-consuming physical and mental training, and a decision to bet her own savings when sponsors wouldn't take the leap. We also get into the mental game of hauling a sled across a frozen continent alone, her philosophy on summits and why she'd rather you have fun than bag a peak, gear hot takes, tea house trekking in Nepal, and what's coming next (spoiler: a book).Monet's story will make you rethink every excuse you've ever made about not being ready.Episode Links:Monet on InstagramMonet's GoFundMeMonet's SubstackMonet's 2026 Group TripsThis episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @HikesandmicsThis episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
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From College Professor to Backcountry Storyteller: Jared "Snackbox" Champion on the Colorado Trail & Beyond
Mar 3001:12:37Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailSnacks, Stories, and the Trail That Changed Everything**The first half of the episode Jared's microphone came from his iPods, the second half is from his condenser microphone.**What happens when a college writing professor trades plagiarism cases for backcountry trails? You get Jared Champion, aka Snackbox, one of the most thoughtful voices in the outdoor storytelling space.In this episode, Jared shares how motorcycle road trips through National Parks first sparked his love of the outdoors, leading to a deep dive into backpacking on the Colorado Trail and a life-changing pivot away from academia. We unpack the origin of his legendary trail name (earned on the JMT, snack wrappers included), and explore how he channeled his passion for writing into founding Backcountry Champions Creative Studio, a nonprofit helping outdoor adventurers turn their trail experiences into published books.We talk about the anthology More Than Hope: Lessons from the Colorado Trail, a PCT book coming out this summer, and Jared's unique process for helping first-time authors find the specific, personal stories only they can tell.We also get into the deeper stuff: why storytelling builds community, why the outdoor space needs more diverse voices, and why hiking hasn't gotten old for him the way everything else has.Plus, his ambitious plans to link the High Sierra Trail and the John Muir Trail in one epic trip, and a hard take on earbuds vs. nature sounds that you won't want to miss.Episode Links:Jared on InstagramOutside Comfort Zone YouTubeBackcountry Champions Creative StudioThis episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics AllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
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Guiding Women Outdoors & Hiking from Knee Replacement to the Alps | Tami & Elise | Season 14 Premiere
Mar 2301:35:08Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailSeason 14 is HERE — and we're kicking things off with a reunion three years in the making.Welcome back to Hikes & Mics! For our Season 14 premiere, I recorded in person on the banks of the Salt River in Arizona with two beloved returning guests: Tami and Elise — first featured back in Season 2.In this episode, we cover:🥾 Elise's life on two coasts — guiding women through her business HER (Hike, Explore, Recharge), REI gear testing, volunteering with the Fountain Hills Sonoran Conservancy, and what "Stay Curious" really means to her.🧊 Tami's wild three years — from knee replacement to the John Muir Trail, Rim-to-Rim, the Enchantments, Tour du Mont Blanc, the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, and summiting The Fang ice climb in Vail on her birthday.🎉 The story that started it all — how the podcast connected these two, and how Tami surprised Elise on the trail during the final miles of the AZ Bootleg 100.🏔️ Enchantments permit tips, mindset shifts, wilderness first responder training, and a round of This or That with Four Peaks as our backdrop.🎥 This is also an official VIDEO episode of Hikes & Mics, now available on our YouTube channel — watch the full conversation as it happened on the Salt River. And fair warning: stick around for the very beginning of the video for a special (and very relatable) blooper — Elise swallowed a fly on camera, and it's exactly as good as it sounds.Whether you've followed Elise and Tami since Season 2 or you're meeting them for the first time, this episode is a reminder of why we do this — the trails, the people, and the connections that outlast any single adventure.Episode Links:Tami on InstagramTami on FacebookElise on InstagramHike, Explore, Recharge WebsiteElise's LinktreeThis episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @HikesandmicsThis episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
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Season 14 Trailer
Mar 2300:01:11Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailSeason 14 of Hikes & Mics launches March 23rd — and it's our biggest season yet. This season's guests include the first American woman to ski solo and unsupported across Antarctica, an ultra-endurance athlete setting FKTs on some of North America's most demanding routes, a conservation photographer documenting climate-threatened wildlife in the alpine and the Sonoran Desert, an outdoor storyteller and author behind a celebrated Colorado Trail anthology, a community organizer who built a hiking group around craft beer culture, and a cancer survivor turned landscape photographer inspiring others to get outside. Plus — a special video premiere episode recorded in Arizona featuring two returning guests from Season 2. Whether you're a day hiker, backpacker, or just someone who loves a great adventure story, Hikes & Mics Season 14 has something for you. Subscribe and follow along wherever you listen to podcasts. This Season was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @HikesandmicsAllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
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S13 - Episode #10 - Kelsey Kurtis
Mar 901:12:20Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailKelsey Kurtis: Antarctica, Adventure Photography, Branding Yourself as YOU & the Legend of the Crotch Pot 🎒📸🐧We're closing out Season 13 with an episode you will not want to miss. Kelsey Kurtis — photographer, author, adventurer, and certified force of nature — joins us for a conversation that covers everything from the Sierra Nevadas to the South Pole, and somehow ends with crotch-baked brownies.Kelsey grew up hiking in Mammoth Lakes, California, and now calls Bellingham, Washington home — two mountain meccas that shaped her deep love for wild places. Over the past 15 years, she's built a career as a professional branding photographer working primarily with women-owned businesses, authored The Connection Method, and grown a community that celebrates showing up unapologetically as yourself. She opens up about navigating ADHD and dyslexia, how her Grandpa Paul's jewelry-selling philosophy became the foundation for everything she teaches about human connection, and why branding yourself as you — not what you sell — is the key to building something that lasts.We dig into her iPhone photography tips (yes, stop pinching to zoom), what makes a branding shoot actually feel like a person, and how her Too Much Club is creating a permission slip for people who've always been told they're too loud, too weird, or too much.Then Kelsey takes us to Antarctica — her #1 bucket list destination since age 15 — where she served as expedition photographer, ugly-cried on a Zodiac surrounded by icebergs, survived the Drake Passage with the help of a mystery pill, and oh… sang I Want It That Way with Howie from the Backstreet Boys. We also talk Camp KK — her group travel series designed for women in midlife who want adventure, community, and professional photos of themselves looking epic in the mountains. And yes — we get into the Crotch Pot. If you don't know, you're about to find out.Episode Links:Kelsey on InstagramKelsey Photography Account on InstagramKelsey's WebsiteUse code HIKE20 for Kelsey's "Elevate your Phone Photography" Class ($20 off - makes it $49!)This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @HikesandmicsThis episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram AllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
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